Sweet Little Jesus Boy
Mahalia Jackson; Orchestra & chorus conducted by Johnny Williams Lyrics

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Sweet little Jesus boy
They made you be born in a manger
Sweet little holy child
We didn't know who you were
Didn't know you'd come to save us Lord
To take our sins away
Our eyes were blind, we could not see
We didn't know who you were

Long time ago
You were born
Born in a manger Lord
Sweet little Jesus boy
The world treats you mean Lord
Treats me mean too
But that's how things are down here
We don't know who you are

You have told us how
We are trying
Master you have shown us how
Even when you were dying
Just seems like we can't do right
Look how we treated you
But please Sir forgive us Lord
We didn't know it was you

Sweet little Jesus boy
Born a long time ago

Sweet little holy child
We didn't know who you were

Overall Meaning

The song "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" by Mahalia Jackson is a touching ode to the birth of Jesus Christ. The lyrics begin by emphasizing the humble circumstances of Jesus' birth, highlighting that he was born in a manger. The song then proceeds to lament the fact that many people at the time were unaware of the significance of Jesus' birth and the role that he would go on to fulfill. The lyrics convey a sense of regret, acknowledging that those who were alive at the time were blind to the true identity of Jesus and his mission to save humanity from sin.

The second half of the song continues in a similar vein. The lyrics speak to the ongoing struggles of humanity to live up to the example set by Jesus. The song acknowledges that the world can be a cruel and harsh place, and that even Jesus himself was subjected to mistreatment during his time on earth. Despite this, the song implores listeners to try their best to follow Jesus' teachings and to seek forgiveness when they fall short. Overall, the song is a powerful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of striving to live a life that embodies the values of Jesus Christ.

Line by Line Meaning

Sweet little Jesus boy
O dear baby Jesus

They made you be born in a manger
They made you born in a cattle feeding trough

Sweet little holy child
O dear child of God

We didn't know who you were
We did not recognize that you were the Messiah

Didn't know you'd come to save us Lord
We didn't realize that you came to redeem us from our sins

To take our sins away
To cleanse us from our wrongdoing

Our eyes were blind, we could not see
We were spiritually blind and could not perceive your divine nature

Long time ago
Many years in the past

You were born
You came into this world as a newborn baby

Born in a manger Lord
Born in a place where animals slept

The world treats you mean Lord
The world treats you unfairly